Tough but safe routes up in QCIM

MANILA, Philippines - Four challenging yet safe and secure routes have been plotted for runners taking part in the third Quezon City International Marathon set Sunday at the Quezon Memorial Circle in front of the Quezon City Hall.

All four courses in the 5K, 10K, 21K and 42.195K full marathon were mapped and certified by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) in coordination with race organizer, Executive Runners Club of the Philippines (Runnex).

“We want our participants to be challenged in the categories they are racing in the third QCIM yet feel safe and secure at the same time as they run,” said Runnex president Atty. Rudy Fernandez. “We want our event not only to be the best but also runner-friendly as well.”

With this in mind, Fernandez said, portions of the Elliptical Road and the entire north-bound lane on Commonwealth Ave. will be closed to traffic during the marathon sponsored by SM Development Corp. and staged in collaboration with the Quezon City government headed by Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Organizers are targeting 15,000 runners to see action in the event backed by Maxima Machineries, Inc. Hyundai Asia Resources, BPI, Accel, Meralco, Mizuno, SSS, Globe, Manila North Tollways Corp., Castrol, Gatorade, Maynilad, and Manila Water and media partners ABS- CBN, DZMM, Studio 23, NBN-Auto REVIEW, Aksyon Sports, MBC, DZSR, DWBR, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine STAR, Multi-Sports, Total Fitness and Front Runner.

Underscoring the QC’s “clean and green” eco-friendly advocacy, most of the relatively flat out-and-back routes will pass through the scenic UP Diliman campus and reach as far as the La Mesa Dam Eco-Park.

For one, the runners in the QCIM’s 5k run will enter the vicinity of Philcoa onward to Commonwealth Ave., passing its junction at Tandang Sora and Katipunan then turning around before reaching the Tandang Sora flyover back to the finish at the QC Memorial Circle. 

The 10k run follows the same path but extends until the Don Antonio Sports Complex past the Diliman Preparatory School along Commonwealth, after which the runners turn back to the same start/finish line.

On the other hand, the 21k half-marathon heads past the 10k mark, runs through Marlboro Street, until it reaches the turnaround point at the La Mesa Dam Eco-Park front gate and then goes back to the finish line.

For elite runners, the 42k run will go inside the UP Diliman Campus and run through University Avenue, E. delos Santos, Kalaw, Pardo de Tavera, C.P. Garcia, Velasquez, and E. Ma. Guerrero streets before exiting to Commonwealth via Magsaysay Ave.

The race proceeds to the La Mesa Eco-Park also through Marlboro Road and takes the same Commonwealth-UP Diliman route back to the finish grounds at the Memorial Circle.

Motorists and commuters planning to pass through the area on Sunday are advised to take alternative routes to reach their respective destinations. Roads leading to Quezon City Hall, Quezon City Circle (East Avenue to Philcoa), Commonwealth (Philcoa to La Mesa Eco Park Entrance) and University of the Philippines- Diliman will be closed.

Or, to further ease traffic congestion during the third edition of the QCIM, they can follow the example of those living in the major subdivisions along the Commonwealth/UP Diliman and Fairview areas where residents have initiated a “Car-Free Sunday” from 12 midnight of Dec. 4 until 12 noon.